A draw that stings: Milan still searching for its identity
The 1-1 draw against Sassuolo in Reggio Emilia leaves a bitter taste. Not so much because of the result itself, but because of what it revealed: a Milan still in search of a clear tactical identity, unable to manage the lead and failing to react with the right character after conceding. A worrying picture of a side that, in mid-October, still struggles to find a clear direction.
Two formations, two faces: Milan changes shape but fails to convince
What stood out most across the ninety minutes was the double tactical shift made by Rúben Amorim. Milan started with a 4-4-1-1, before switching to a more aggressive 3-4-2-1 in the second half. The change was triggered by the introduction of Luka Modrić and the withdrawal of Pervis Estupiñán, one of the less convincing players on the night, with Adrien Rabiot pushed further forward and Moreira deployed in a hybrid wide-back role.
The result? Two games in one. The first half was flat: a compact, passive Milan with little offensive intent and almost no real build-up play. Only in the final ten minutes of the first period did some signs of life emerge, with a few decent chances that offered a glimmer of hope heading into the break.
Second half: Rabiot’s goal, then the lights go out
The second half saw a more purposeful Milan. Moreira, one of the brighter performers on the night, provided the assist for Rabiot’s goal, which put the Rossoneri 1-0 up. Up to that point the team had held its shape reasonably well, created several chances and maintained decent control of the tempo.
Then came the collapse. In the five minutes after the goal, Milan stopped being Milan: their guard dropped, spaces opened up, and they surrendered the ball at the most critical moment. Mike Maignan made a couple of crucial saves, but at a corner kick the defensive wall crumbled, with Odenthal finishing to make it 1-1.
A defensive fragility that appeared at the worst possible time, precisely when Milan needed to manage the game with cool heads.
Rabiot: «We need more men in the box»
The most lucid and honest analysis came from Adrien Rabiot himself, who faced the cameras without looking for excuses: «We gave away two points after taking the lead. Maignan saved us several times, then we conceded from a set piece — with our defence set up like that, it’s simply not acceptable.»
The French midfielder then touched on a key issue: Milan attacks with too few players in the box. It’s not about fielding more strikers, but about having midfielders and full-backs who consistently make runs into the area at the right moments. A high level of possession, like Milan typically enjoys, means very little if it doesn’t translate into goal-threat density in and around the penalty area. «We work on this in training», he admitted, «but it’s not easy.»
Significant words from an experienced player like Rabiot — already on 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 league games — that also carry the weight of an indirect criticism of the tactical setup: it’s the manager’s call to decide how many players push into the box during attacking phases.
Amorim: «I’d rather lose one and win others»
The Portuguese head coach himself, at the end of the match, did not hide his disappointment: «When we don’t win, we are never satisfied. After Rabiot’s goal we should have managed the game better, but instead we conceded from a corner — and that is not acceptable.»
Amorim also offered a telling reflection on the table: despite Milan remaining unbeaten in their last six Serie A fixtures, the three draws collected weigh heavily. «I would have preferred to lose one game and win others rather than collect three draws — those are six lost points.» A frank statement that highlights the gap between acceptable outcomes and the results needed to genuinely compete at the top.
The path is clear: more character and more presence in the box
Milan have the technical quality to do far more. The flashes at the end of the first half, the quality of Rabiot’s goal and the team’s ability to control the game in its best moments all confirm this. But what’s needed is consistency of attitude, a more mature collective reading of key game phases, and the attacking density that Rabiot is right to demand.
The next challenge — in Serie A and in the Europa League, where after the opening defeat against Benfica a win is an absolute must — will be a crucial test. The contradictions seen so far must give way to certainties. The potential is there — now Milan just need the courage to express it fully.
